Bunk feeder or the like



Feb. 14, 1967 F. E. BUSCHBOM BUNK FEEDER OR THE LIKE 8 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. /am E. wcHo/vl /41- TaRNE Ys Original Filed June 8, 1962 Feb.v14, 1967 EBUscHBoM 3,303,956

BUNK FEEDER OR THE LIKE Original Filed June 8, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FZ oro E. l/.sc/-lBo/w EMIS@ Arr-@RNE Y6 F. E. BUscHBoM 3,303,966

BUNK FEEDER OR THE LIKE Original Filed June 8, 1962 Feb. i4, i967 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 I NVE NTOR. /QmaJcHBO/w TroR/VEKS' Feb. 14, 1967 F, E, BUSCHBOM 3,303,966

4 BUNK FEEDER OR THE LIKE Original Filed June 8, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. l aYoE BuscHBoM TTaR/vsyf Feb. 14, 1967 F. E. BusczHBoMA 3,303,966

BUNK FEEDER OR THE LIKE Original Filed June 8, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 F'IG. 9 F/G. l0

F/G. l5

I NVENTOR. flax/o EuscHBo/w ATraR/VE nr Feb. 14, 1967 F. E. BuscHBoM 3,303,966

BUNK FEEDER OR THE LIKE Original Filed June 8, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 6 Il 4 //o @T JTD/40A FIG. 1/

INVENTOR. Fwro E. uscHBoM ATTORNEYS Feb. 14, 1967 F. E. Buses-BOM 3,303,966

BUNK FEEDER OR THE LIKE Original Filed June 8, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 F/G. l2

INVENTOR fZoro/ uscHo/w ATTORNEYS United States Patent() 6 Claims. (Cl. 222-1) This application is a division of Serial No. 201,052 filed lune 8, 1962, now Patent No. 3,254,798.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bunk feeders or the like of the type which includes means for receiving ensilage, hay, mixed feeds, grain supplements, etc., usually from a silo or other appropriate storage bin, and means for conveying the material received into extended position within a feed bunk whereby it is accessible to animals, usually cattle.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and useful bunk feeder or the like providing functional features superior to existing bunk feeders.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and useful bunk feeder or the like which will feed an entire herd at one time.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and useful bunk feeder or the like which will eliminate animal crowding which occurs when feed delivered to a portion of the feed bunk first.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and useful bunk yfeeder or the like which will permit selective dual lot feeding.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and useful bunk feeder or the like which will feed a mixture of ensilage, grain, hay, mixed feed or the like uniformly throughout the length of the feeder and without substantial separation.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a new and `useful feeder of improved performance and including an auger having an enclosure for all weather protection of the auger, and for prevention of engagement with the animals being fed during operation.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a higher capacity output and lower power requirements for a `bunk feeder or the like.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a new and useful bunk feeder or the like having means for accurately measuring feed by volume.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a new and useful bunk feeder which eliminates wind waste during feed delivery to the bunk.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a new and useful bunk Ifeeder or the like which has eliminated the side Vdelivery openings of the tube or trough type feeders and therefore precludes injury, especially lacerated tongues, to livestock through these openings.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a new and useful bunk feeder which may be completely emptied after each feeding and in which there is no residue left to compact or freeze and immobilize the auger.

Other objects of this invention reside in the provision of an economical new and useful bunk feeder or the like of increased capacity, which will feed mixed feed, silage or hay to livestock quicker, the provision of a bunk feeder or the like including a helical auger positioned within an enclosure hood and supported by a portion of the hoofd without bearings, the supporting portion having means for reducing wear thereof, and in the provision of a removable closure for the bottom portion of the hood and means for operating the sa-me in response to conveying of material.

Still further objects reside in the utilization of a divertor or tiltboard in cooperat-ion therewith.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the specific structural details and construction of the hopper, hood, removable wear plate for the hood, the cooperating auger supported by the removable wear plate, the closure means, the supporting and operating structure for the closure means, the pressure sensitive switch, the ldivertor board, the actuating mechanism for the closure means in cooperation with the drive `for the auger, and in the structural @and functional cooperation of these parts.

Other objects of the invention are those inherent in the apparatus as described, pictured and claimed and Will become apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

This invention w-ill be described with reference to the drawings in which corresponding numerals refer to the same parts and in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of the invention installed in a feed bunk, the feed bunk having the closer side rail removed, and being shown in fragmentary form;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged right end elevational view with the hopper drive structure, and pressure switch removed;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the feeder of this invention showing the feeder in position for dropping feed;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly broken away, showing the actuation means for the auger and closure;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view with certain parts omitted showing the closure means drive connection, and operation;

FIGURE 6 is a view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 6 6 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 7 7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 8 8 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of a modified form of pressure switch with the cover sepanated;

FIGURE 10 is an end view of a portion thereof;

FIGURE 11 is an end view of the hopper assembly;

FIGURE 12 is an opposite end view thereof; and

FIGURE 13 is a schematic wiring diagram.

Reference is now made to the drawings and specifically to FIGURE 1. There is shown the `bunk feeder or the like of this invention generally designated 10, including the following generally designated components: the hopper assembly 11, the conveyor assembly 12, the drive assembly 13 and the tiltboard assembly 14. All of these are positioned in the bunk B which is supported by a plurality of legs 17 secured to and supporting a floor or base 15 having a peripheral wall 16, the nearest 'portion of which is removed for illustration. The bunk B is usually made of wood, although it may be constructed partially or completely of concrete, steel or the like, as desired. The entire feeder 10 is supported on a plurality of support stands 18-21, each of which provides a pair of legs having flat foot plates or flanges 22 which are bolted or otherwise secured to and which rest on and are supported by the oor 15 of the bunk.

Each of the stands 2li-21 is identical, comprising a pair of spaced parallel tubular legs interposed by a semicircular portion integral therewith as shown in FIGURE 2. They are thus of inverted U-conllguration and formed from a tubular or pipe member, as shown. Each is apertured at the bend in the U to receive a threaded bolt or adjusting rod 23 having its head welded or otherwise secured to a hanger bracket and carry yover plate 25 of the form shown in FIGURE 3. A handle 26 has an apertured end providing a nut which is threaded onto member 23, all `as will be seen by reference to FIGURES 2 and 3. By turning the handle 26 the rod 23 may be raised or lowered with respect to the U portion of member 20 and thus the entire tube assembly 12 elevated or lowered by turning all of the handles substan-tially uniformly.

The conveyor assembly 12 includes an elongated housing shroud or hood 28 which is formed of three parts, upper cover 28A, a reversible bottom wall or wear plate 28B, and curtain wall plate or member 31. Members 28A and 28B and 31 are formed of suitable gauge sheet metal and when assembled form an inverted I in cross-section with an elongated aperture or slot at 29. Member 28A is hemmed as shown in FIGURE 3 at 30 to provide an outwardly turned flange, to which is secured the outwardly turned flange 30A of lcurtain wall plate or member 31. The other edge of member 28A is bent to provide an outwardly turned llange 30B to which is secured one outwardly turned llange 30C of mem-ber 28B. Member 28B comprises an elongated member having a cross-section in the form of an arc of a circle -with two outwardly turned parallel flanges 30C and 30D at the edges of the arc being uniform so that if there is wear due to the abrasive action of the auger A thereagainst at the portion indicated by P1, the member 28B may be turned end-forend or reversed whereupon portion P2 would then be positioned under auger A for support. While flange 30 is shown as hemmed to provide a double fold, the flanges at 30A-30D are shown as single fold, although they may be .hemmed to provide additional strength, if desired. Each of the outwardly turned flanges 3GB-30D and 30 30A is provided with a plurality of aligned apertures so lthat curtain plate 31 may be bolted to member 28A by a plurality of bolt assemblies 32 and hood cover 28A may be bolted to wear plate 28B by a plurality of bolt assemblies 32A. Apertures in llan'ges 30C and 30D correspond to the apertures in flange 30B so that when the wear plate 28B is reversed the other flange (in this instance 30D) may be bolted to flange 30B.

Each of the flanges 30-30D have portions removed ad jacent the ends thereof to accommodate the plate 25 which overlaps the butted juncture -of adjacent sections of hood 28 of the tube assembly 12 as shown in FIGURE l and is bolted -or otherwise suitably secured thereto at each side of the butt.

Thus, the entire bunk feeder assembly is comprised of a hopper and drive assembly and added on conveyor sections, each including hood, auger and closure, and tiltboard and divertor board sections, if desired, as will become more apparent as further described. While only one conveyor section may be used, additional sections of uniform or varying length are usually used to provide the desired extension.

In this fashion .the conveyor assembly tube or hood 28 comprises a plurality of sections, each section formed of the three members 28A, 28B and 31, all bolted together and each section being abutted at at least lone end to an adjoining section, or to the hopper assembly 11, and positioned in abutment by the overlapping reinforcing plate 25 bolted thereto. Plate 25 has welded to it throughout the portion designed to suppont the wear plate 28B, a guide member 35 in a form of a section of angle which is adapted to abut against and ride up and down the adjacent leg of stand 21. A gusset 36 serves to support in position the bottom end of member 25 and is welded to member 35 as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

The hopper generally designated 11 has a sheet metal front plate 38, a sheet metal back plate 39, each of generally inverted triangular configuration and having an outwardly flanged top edge 40 and a semicircular portion cut out at the downwardly turned apex of the triangle. Side panels 41 are joined thereto by being bolted along inwardly turned llanged edges and are provided with similarly outwardly turned top flanges or edges 40A and outwardly turned bottom flanges 42. Out-wardly turned bottom flanges 42 cooperate with the outwardly turned flanges 43 of hopper bottom member 44 and are bolted thereto so that bottom member 44, a semicircular closure trough member, forms a bottom for the hopper 11. Member 44 extends beyond end 39 of the hopper 11 and termina-tes in the middle of plate 25A, as shown in FIGURE 4, abutting up against the bottom of the first wear plate 28B to form a continuation thereof. Thus, it will be apparent that the auger A is supported in its entirety by a plurality of wear plates 28B and by cooperating trough 44 engaging a plurality of arcuate radial portions -of Ithe auger at spaced positions. Member 25A is similar to member 25 except that it is provided with a plurality of ears '45 which are bolted to plate 39 to ilx it firmly to the hopper 11.

Hopper 11 is supported on stands 18 and 19 which are similar to stands 20 and 21 except that in lieu of having rounded tops they are provided with transverse cross angles 46 which are welded or otherwise secured to the top ends of the vertical tubular legs. Plate 39 of hopper 11 has bolted or otherwise secured thereto a pair of angles 49 and 50. A threaded rod 47A penetrates angle 49 and angle 46 of stand 18 and is secured for adjustment of the hopper upwardly and downwardly. It is welded or secured at one end to handle 48, passes through an aperture in angle 49 and through a nut secured to the underside thereof. Handle 48 engages the top surface of angle 46, as shown.

Angles 49 and 50 are appropriately apertured so that the vertical legs of stand 18 may pass through them, so that angles 49 and 50 may slide vertically on these legs. Additional vertical adjustment of stands 18A and 19A in which the legs of hangers 18 and 19 llt and which are secured thereto by set screws so that the legs of hangers 18 and 19 may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly in the telescoping mem-bers 18A and 19A and then locked in position. In this instance foot plates or flanges 22 are secured to the bottom ends of sleeves 18A and 19A whereas they are secured to the bottoms of the tubular legs for stands 20 and 21.

Wall 38 is provided with a pair of angle members 51 and 52, in similar fashion to angles 49 and 50 for wall 39. Another threaded rod 47A `is welded at one end to handle 48 which engages the top surface of angle member 46 of hanger 19. Angle 51 is appropriately apertured for the penetration of rod 47A and rod 47A penetrates a nut secured to the underside thereof in the same fashion as described for hanger 18 and wall 39. Angles 51 and 52 are appropriately apertured for the penetration of the vertical legs of hanger 19. Another pair of angles 53 and 54 are apertured and positioned on the legs of hanger 19 and serve as a motor base. Angles 53 and 54 are each turned in the opposite direction from angles 5t) and 51 to provide an outwardly turned flat surface having an elongated slot in which the base of the rnotor 64 is bolted.

As will be apparent, the angles 53 and S4 are appropriately apertured for the passage of the legs of hanger 19 and adjustable upwardly and downwardly vertically thereon. Angles 53 and 54 are maintained in spaced relation by being ixedly secured to the motor. Angle 53 has a pair of threaded rods S5 each welded or otherwise secured at one end thereto and penetrating appropriate apertures in angle 51. It is immobilized in vertical adjustment with respect to angle 51 by pairs of nuts positio-ned one each above and below the flange of angle 51.

Thus, the motor 64 is suitably positioned to maintain belt tension of belt 66 by vertical adjustment of rods 55 with respect to angle 51, permitted by the sliding of angles 53 and 54 on the legs of stand 19. Once adjusted themotor will then move upwardly or downwardly with the hopper assembly 11 as it is vertically adjusted by handles 48 and rods 47A in unison with handles 26 and rods4 23 for the conveyor assembly 12. Additional vertical adjustment of the hopper assembly 11 is provided by sleeves 18A and 19A as described.

The material conveying unit, auger or helical flight means A supported by the wear plates 28B and hopper bottom 44, comprises a plurality of auger sections each comprising a helical flight S6 secured to a tbular center shaft 57. Adjacent sections are abutted together and joined in any suitable manner such as by having adjoining ends of shaft 57 sleeved over a common stub shaft or rod and pinned thereto, or otherwise. Auger A is provided with a distal terminal end 58 and a proximal terminal end Ab9, as shown in FIGURE l. End 59 has one end of output shaft 62 of a gear box or transmission 60 positioned therein and pinned or otherwise secured thereto so that the auger A is rotated by the gear box or transmission 60. v

VBox 60, as perhaps shown best in FIGURE 4, is bolted or otherwise fixed upon a hat plate 61 which is bolted or otherwise attached to wall 38 and serves as a closure for the semicircular cut-out portion in plate 38 and for the respective open end of member 44. Box 60 has the shaft 62 `extending from both ends thereof, one end being secured to the hollow shaft 57 of auger A as previously described and the other end being provided with sheaves 63. Motor 64 has a shaft which drives sheaves 65 and through a belt 66 drives sheave 68 which is secured to and in turn drives the input shaft 69 of gear box 60. Thus, running of the motor 64 drives the input shaft 69 and, through an appropriate Worm and worm gear in transmission 60, the output shaft 62 for the rotation of the auger A, and, through sheave 63, of other apparatus presently described.

It will be appreciated that up to this point there has been described a bunk feeder of new and unique construction and function which will operate quite satisfactorily to deliver feed to animals. However, the apparatus subsequently to be described is in the nature of attachments forming an improved combination with additional and meritorious functional features.

.Plate 61 has an inwardly turned bottom flange which is bolted to the corresponding inwardly turned top ange on a plate 70 which supports a second gear box or transmission 71, which is bolted thereto in vertical slots. Plate 70 is braced to member 44 by brace 70A, bolted or otherwise secured. Transmission 71 has an input shaft 72 and an output shaft 73, driven through an appropriate worm and worm gear. Shaft 72 is driven by the sheave 74 from belt 75, and in turn driven by sheave 63 as previously explained.

To shaft 73 is secured a crank 76 for rotation therewith. Crank 76 has a pin 77 on which is sleeved a sleeve member 78, retained in position by a washer and cotter key for pivotal movement thereon, and having an apertured tongue which receives a pin or bolt assembly securing the bifurcated end of pitman arm 79 for pivotal movement thereto as shown in FIGURE 5. Pitman arm 79 is tubular or provided with a central recess at 80 which has an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of a rod 81 which is slip fit therein for reciprocation as shown in FIGURE 5. Rod 81 has secured to its extending end a bifurcated member 82 secured for pivotal movement by a pin or bolt assembly to the tongue of sleeve 83 positioned for pivotal movement on shaft 84 and retained thereon by a washer and cotter key assembly 85. A second sleeve 87 secured to an arm 88 (FIG- URES 4 and 5) is also positioned on shaft 84 and has a downturned end 89 supported for arcuate movement by sleeve 90 of bracket assembly 91. Bracket assembly 91 is made into hemimorphic portions and adapted to be positioned around one of the legs of stand 18, and bolted 6. thereto. End 89 may have a washer secured thereto or an enlarged portion resting on thetop face of sleeve as desired.

Shaft 84 is secured to a plate member 92, in turn bolted or secured to the underside of a gate or closure member 93. Closure member 93 is an elongated rectangular plate member having downwardly turned edges which may be hemmed for additional strength as desired. Plate member 92 is bolted thereto and flush with one end, as shown in FIGURE 3. A plurality of members 93 are usually provided, one for each section of hood and auger since a plurality of hood and auger sections is usually used, as previously described. Plates 93 are then positioned end-to-end and in abutment and supported by plates 92A being positioned to underlay each of the abutting ends. Since there is no abutment for the rst and last members 93, plate 92 at the hopper end, and plate 92A at the distal end (of the closure means formed by the plurality of members 93 in end-to-end relation) are each placed flush with the edge of their respective members 93.

Plates 92A are each provided with a shorter shaft 84A as shown for plate 92A i-n FIGURE 3, than plate 92 since the shaft 84A does not need to penetrate sleeve 83 as does shaft 84 of plate 92 when it is connected to the pitman. Both plates 92 and 92A are supported by arms 88 and brackets 91.

As shown in FIGURE 5, a plurality of arms 88 movably support the closure member 93 below the elongated discharge opening dened by the side wall or hood cover 28A and wear plate 28B. Closure member 93 is shown in a closed position indicated by full lines below the elongated opening and in an open position indicated by broken lines laterally away from the elongated opening. The closure member 93 moves in a common horizontal plane about a plurality of upright axes generally coincident with the upright axes of the sleeves 90 accommodating the downwardly projected ends of the arms 88. FIGURES 2 and .12 show the separate arms 88 pivotally mounting opposite ends of gate 93. A number of arms 88 used to pivotally support a closure member or gate 93 is dependent on the length of the bunk feeder.

As will be seen in FIGURE 4, member 82 has provided integral with it a depending inclined lug means 96 adapted to be engaged by a tongue 97 of the configuration shown in FIGURE 4. Tongue 97 protrudes from a solenoid assembly 98 supported on the underside -of arm 79. Solenoid assembly 98 is provided with a conventional solenoid coil 99 for urging member 97 upwardly against the bias of a spring 100, all as shown in FIGURE 4.

A toggle switch S1 is positioned on wall 39 and is connected to solenoid 99 for continuous actuation thereof, if desired, as later explained.

The tiltboard assembly is perhaps best illustrated in FIGURES l, 2, 3 and 8. It comprises a plurality of tiltboard sections 101 each bolted to a bracket strap 102, usually two straps being used for each board. Adjacent straps at abutting ends of boards 101 are joined by straps 102A so that all boards tilt in unison. Straps 102 are each welded at one end to tubular rod 104. Board 101 adjacent end 69 is provided with a handle 105, as shown in FIGURE l, on either opposite male or female end. Handle 105 has a tubular portion joined at one end to a flat piece 105A, at an angle, piece 105A being bolted to the first bracket strap 102. Rods 104 are straight and each has a short protruding shaft welded in one end to make one lmale and one female end for positioning in cooperating prolongation and are received in a plurality of sleeves 106 each supported at the top of a divider board bracket 107 which also serves to support adjacent ends of the divider boards 108 which are positioned in abutment and prolongation as shown in FIGURES l and 8. Rods 104 are so chosen that when in the assembled position of FIGURE l, abutting ends are received within sleeves 106. Bracket 107 is bolted to the ends of boards 108. Bracket 107 comprises a T member secured at its bottom end to a rod or pipe 109 which has an upturned end received inthe sleeve of a securing bracket assembly 91A. Assembly 91A for bracket 107 is bolted to clamp on one of the tubular legs of stands 19-21, and adjacent foot 22, but otherwise similarly to bracket 91 for arms 88.

Boards 101 are limited in movement in one direction by engagement with the legs of stands and 21 as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3, and in the other direction by bent clip 110, bolted to one of straps 102 and having a portion bent to engage board 108, as shown in full lines in FIGURE 3. Usually one member 110 is provided for each board 101.

The pressure switch assembly S2 is best shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. There is Vshown an actuator 115 of the configuration shown in FIGURE 7, positioned within the hood cover 28A, and secured to a rod 116 having a bent end 117 extending through an elongated aperture in plate 28B. Arm 116 is supported in a U bracket 118 bolted or otherwise secured to the inside wall of member 28A. Posi-tioned on the outside wall by bracket 119 is a microswitch 120 whose actuator is adapted to be engaged by the bent end 117 of rod 116 as shown in FIGURE 7. A spring 121 is connected to a bracket 122 also bolted to member 28A to retain the pressure switch actuator 115 in the full line position of FIGURE 7.

An alternate form of pressure switch S3 is shown in FIGURES 9 and l0. There the pressure switch S3 is shown as bolted to cover a rectangular opening in member 28A. It is provided with a first U shaped portion designated 126 providing a bottom and extending sides and a second U shaped cooperating cover portion 127 having inwardly turned flanges formed to overlap the parallel side portions of member 126 and bolted or otherwise secured thereto to provide a complete housing for switch S2. The bottom of lmember 126 is provided with a rectangular aperture which is covered by a cemented or otherwise secured thin membrane 128 of rubber, plastic, etc., which is engaged by the actuator 129 of a microswitch 130 secured to member 126. Member 127 merely serves to enclose the entire apparatus. Either of switches S2 or S3 may be positioned adjacent the end 58 of the feeder as shown for switch S2 in FIGURE l. As placed7 they are positioned suciently far inward from end 58 of the feeder `so as to control the opening of plates 93 before any appreciable amount of feed is conveyed from the end 58 by auger A.

The wiring diagram, FIGURE 13, shows the interconnection of switches S1 land S2 (or S3). There motor 64 is shown connected to electric lines L1, L2 and L3 for operation. An appropriate disconnect or motor starter switch is used, not shown, and energizes the entire circuit. Lines L1 and L2 are connected to switches S1 and S2 (or S3) so that when either is closed solenoid 99 is actuated, as long as either is closed.

It will be apparent by reference to FIGURE 2 that the auger A is rotated in a direction to roll up the arcuate incline provided by the arcuate wear plates 28B, or clockwise with reference to FIGURE 3. Cover 28A and plate 28B provide in cross-section, a circle for the major portion of their combined peripheries. The circle is terminated at flange 30D and by a portion of cover 28A providing a straight edge portion joined to the curtain wall 31. The straight edge portion commences at a point sublstantially on a horizontal plane passed through the axis of auger A as seen by reference to FIGURE 2. The axis of auger A is offset downwardly and rightwardly with reference to the axis of the circular formed by portions 28A and 28B so that wear plate 28B cradles the auger as shown. The straight portion of cover 28A terminates in spaced relation to ange 30D to provide the opening 29.

Hence, there is a gradually increasing clearance between the circumference of auger A and the circle formed by members 28A l,and 128B, the clearance gradually in- 8 creasing upwardly in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 2. The edge of wear plate 28B at flange 30D is positioned at slightly past a vertical plane passed through the axis of the circle to cradle the auger A when it is in the position shown. In other words, that edge of the wear plate (as at 30D) is positioned at one side also of a vertical plane passed through the axis of auger A when it is at rest position, but immediately adjacent that plane. The increasing clearance provided not only allows for give or freedom of the auger within the housing 28 when bunches of material or other obstructions are encountered, but also provides a space occupied by the material F for carrying of material over plates 93 as shown in FIGURE 2. Thus the space provides a trough of the cross-sectional conguration shown.

The bunk feeder of this invention may `be operated in three fashions. In operation as a standard carry over type bunk feeder the sheave 63, belt 75, gear box 71, the connections to and closure members 93 are not utilized, nor is the tilt or divertor board assembly 14 used. In this fashion the motor v64 drives sheave 65 which through belt 66 drives sheave 68 and shaft 69, which through gear box 60 drives the auger A in the direction shown in FIGURE 2, building up the material within the hood 28 as shown by the material F in that figure. The material, as can be visualized from FIGURE '1, is `brought into the hopper 11, conveyed out of the hopper by the auger A into the sections of the feeder proper. As it is c-onveyed from the left end to the right end with reference to FIGURE l, it commences to drop through .the elongated aperture or slot 29 building up as a pile on the oor ofthe bunk B. As the auger continues to rotate the length -of the pile continuously extendsand the material is conveyed by carrying over upon itself, i.e., the pile of material itself acts as a closure for the portion of the bunk feeder over that portion of the bulk to which the material has already been delivered .and the feed progresses from the left to the right with reference to FIGURE l. In this instance the pressure switch assembly S2 (or S3) is not used, the feed is delivered to the end of the bunk and the motor is then deactivated. A saving is effected by omitting the unused parts.

When it is desired to feed animals simultaneously and to achieve a number of the other objects of this invention, the pressure switch S2 (or S3) and plates 93 for closing slot 29 are used, providing an intermittent dumping of the feed material F. In this instance belt through gear box 71 continuously actuates the crank 76 which continually reciprocates pitman arm 79 from the full to the dotted line position of FIGURE 5. However, arm 88 is not moved from the f-ullto the dotted line position luntil member 97 engages member 96 (FIG- URE 4) so the closure plates 93 a-re normally positioned as .shown in FIGURE 2, to close the slot 29 and the material builds up as shown by F in FIGURE 2 by operation of the auger A and is carried over the plates 93 by the auger A. When the material F engages arm of pressure switch assembly S2, arm 1.15 is moved from the Ifull to the dotted line position of FIGURE 7, stretching the spring 122 from the full to the dotted line position and engaging the .actuator of microswitch 120. The spring 121 as will be apparent, normally maintains the pla-te or arm 115 in the path of the flow of material F. Energizati-on of microswitch energizes solenoid 99 which causes the inclined face of member 97 to slip over the inclined face of member 96 as the solenoid 99 biases member 97 upwardly against tension of spring 100, and as arml 79 reciprocates.

Member 80 on its next reciprocation from the dotted to the f-ull line position of FIGURE 5 moves member 82 Wi-th it by frictional engagement of members 96 and 97. Thus closure members 93 will be sw-ung from the position of FIGURE 2, to the position of FIGURE 3, opening` aperture or slot 29 and the material F will fall down to the bun-k in one elongated mass or stream. Since 9 the falling of the material will allow the tension of spring 121 to move member 115 from the dotted to the full line position of FIGURE 7 the solenoid 99 will be deactivated, spring 100 allowed to 'bias member 97 in the position of FIGURE 4 and pitman 79 will once more slip on rod 81.

The operation of the modied form of switch S3 shown in FIGURES 9 and 10 is substantially identical except that pressure is exerted on the membrane 128 which will then move actuator 129 to close the switch with the same results. When pressure is released on the membrane 128 by the material F dropping away -as the slot 29 is opened the switch S3 is deactivated.

When desired, switch S1 may be activated to continuously engage solenoid 99 for the requisite number of dumps to clear the feeder of all material regardless of whether feed is actuating switch S2 (or S3) or not.

If, in addition to the 4beneficial features provided by the dumping action of this invention, multiple lot feeding is desired the diverter boards 101 and divider boards 108 are installed. As will be apparent by FIGURE 2, by use of the handle 105 the boards 101 may be swung from the full to the dotted line position of FIGURE 2 and since they are positioned underneath slot 29 will divert material either leftwandly or rightwardly with reference to FIGURE 2, and animals may be fed at one side of the bunk or the other, as desirable.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The specific embodimen-ts described are given by way of example only and the invention is limi-ted only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bunk feeder comprising in combination: a conveyor assembly for transporting material in extended position, support means for supporting said conveyor assembly in vertical spaced relationship from a feeding surface, said conveyor assembly including conveyor means for moving material in said extended position, an elongated support member adjacent and generally parallel to said conveyor means, wear plate means for supporting a lower portion of said conveyor means, said wear plate means having an arcuate cross-section of the concave curvature substantially larger than the peripheral surface of said conveyor means, means for connecting said wear plate selectively in initial or end for end reverse position to said support member whereby the bottom portion of the conveyor means selectively engages separate linear portions of said wear plate, a downwardly directed side plate laterally spaced from a lower elongated edge of said wear platemeans forming with said lower edge of the wear plate means a material discharge opening, closure means for retaining material in said discharge opening, said closure means mounted for movement away from said opening thereby allowing material to discharge onto the feeding surface, means mounting said closure means for movement to open and close positions relative to said opening, said closure means is a dumping means comprising a gate means extending along the length of and radially movable with respect to said conveyor means, control means responsive to the pressure of material conveyed by said conveyor means, drive means responsive to said control means and secured to said gate means, said gate means alternately closing said discharge opening and releasing feed along the length of said conveying means when driven by said drive means in response to said control means, u l i l v i' 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said discharge opening comprises an elongated slot extending longitudinally of said conveyor means.

3. A method of dispensing livestock feed to an elongated feeding location comprising the steps of collecting feed at one end of said elongated feeding location, moving said feed from said one end of the feeding location to the other end thereof along an elongated path formed by a bottom wall having an elongated edge extended along and positioned above said feeding location, progressively storing part of the feed during the movement thereof along said bottom wall adjacent said edge in a reservoir having a movable closure means and moving the remainder of the feed forwardly toward .the other end of the feeding location, actuating a dump control in response to pressure of feed in the elongated path, and dumping in response to the actuation of the dump control substantially all the stored feed into the feeding location by moving the closure means away from said reservoir.

4. A method of dispensing livestock feed to a feeding location comprising the steps of, moving the feed in an elongated path along a bottom wall having an elongated edge extended alo-ng and positioned above said feeding location, progressively storing a substantial ribbon -of the feed during the movement thereof along said bottom wall adjacent said edge lin a reservoir having a swingable closure means by moving part of the feed over the edge into the reservoir and moving the remainder of the feed forwardly toward the other end of the feeding location, actuating a dump control in response to pressure of feed in the elongated path, and dumping in response to the actuation o-f the dump control substantially all the stored feed into the feeding location by swinging the closure lmeans laterally of said reservoir.

5. A method of feeding livestock from a feed bunk comprising the steps of providing a feed bunk, extending a substantial mass of feed in an elongated path over a substantial length of said feed bunk, during the extending of feed progressively storing part of .the feed in the elongated path by moving fee-d over an elongated edge forming a continuous ribbon of feed and stored feed and moving the remainder of the feed in the elongated path, actuating a dump control in response to pressure of feed in the elongated path, and dumping in response to the actuation of the dump control a substantial portion of the ribbon of feed and stored Ifeed into the feed bunk.

6. The method defined in claim 3 wherein said reservoir is an elongated slot extended along and positioned above the feeding location.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,606,693 8/ 1952 Phillips 222-333 X 2,801,610 8/1957 Wallace et al. 119--51 2,867,314 1/1959 Hansen 198-64 2,929,356 3/ 1960 Bacigalupo 119-51 2,961,126 11/1960 Craig 222-14 3,029,714 4/ 1962 Creswell 222-503 X 3,105,586 10/1963 Carew et al. 198-64 3,115,117 12/196'3 Brelsford 119--52 X 3,133,625 5/1964 Best 198-64 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, ROBERT B. agrava-3s, Examiners, N L STACK@ estaran? ,Earmfnef- 

5. A METHOD OF FEEDING LIVESTOCK FROM A FEED BUNK COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PROVIDING A FEED BUNK, EXTENDING A SUBSTANTIAL MASS OF FEED IN AN ELONGATED PATH OVER A SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH OF SAID FEED BUNK, DURING THE EXTENDING OF FEED PROGRESSIVELY STORING PART OF THE FEED IN THE ELONGATED PATH BY MOVING FEED OVER AN ELONGATED EDGE FORMING A CONTINUOUS RIBBON OF FEED AND STORED FEED AND MOVING THE REMAINDER OF THE FEED IN THE ELONGATED PATH, ACTUATING A DUMP CONTROL IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURE OF FEED IN THE ELONGATED PATH, AND DUMPING IN RESPONSE TO THE ACTUATION 